Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said much of the damaged Nord Stream pipeline may need to be replaced, while Russia plans to increase gas exports via the Black Sea and Turkey. He said this late on Thursday to Russian state TV Channel 1.
Underwater explosions late last month ruptured the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, which until Russia cut off supplies in late August was Germany's main supply route.
They also damaged the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which never started operating because Germany suspended the certification process shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
The investigation into the incidents is ongoing. Russia said it was an "act of international terrorism", pointing the finger at the West, while the European Union said it was "sabotage".
Both pipelines, which stretch more than 1.000 kilometers under the sea, were not in operation at the time of the explosion.
"Experts say that in order to restore operations after such a terrorist act, it is necessary to actually cut off a very large piece of pipe, over a long distance, and actually build a new section on that section," Miller said.
"And in order to restore stability, this pipe must be raised. And you understand, it's one thing when the pipe is hollow, yes, and another thing when it's filled with sea water for hundreds of kilometers".
On Wednesday, Miller said repairs to the damaged Nord Stream pipelines will take more than a year.
After the pipeline leak, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Turkey earlier this week as the best route to divert gas supplies to the European Union after the Nord Stream pipeline leak.
He proposed the establishment of a gas hub in Turkey.
Miller said Russia will begin "concrete" talks with Turkey next week on the proposals.
He said that Russia could increase Turkey's gas supply by building new pipelines in parallel with the currently operational Turkish Stream gas pipeline across the Black Sea, adding that project documentation has already been prepared.
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